Limelight Opens Internet Exchange in Phoenix

Limelight Networks is best known as a leading content delivery network. This week the company said it is backing a new Internet exchange in Phoenix, which will be housed at the i/o Phoenix facility operated by i/o Data Centers.

The Phoenix area is home to many large Web properties. By routing traffic through the new Arizona Internet Exchange (AZIX), providers will save on transit costs and can decrease latency by roughly 10 to 20 milliseconds, according to Limelight. Lower latency is important on bandwidth-intensive tasks, such as large software downloads and live streaming video.

"We're excited to help drive connectivity in our own home town," said Denver Maddux, Vice President of Network Architecture, Limelight Networks (LLNW). "Not only will the Exchange decrease costs for providers locally and improve content delivery speeds, it will also help in fostering a community of content and access providers in the Arizona market."

i/o Phoenix is one of the world's largest data centers and has access to more than a dozen telecommunications carriers including AboveNet, AT&T, Level3, Qwest, Verizon Business and Telia Sonera.

"i/o PHOENIX provides the ideal platform for the Arizona Internet Exchange," says Kevin Malik, CIO for i/o. "With free cross-connects and over a dozen telecommunications carriers in our Meet-Me-Rooms, as well as some of the largest Web properties, i/o will be able to offer Arizona Internet Exchange customers unmatched connectivity."